Softball

No. 7 Alabama rebounds 4-1 to secure series win vs. No. 13 Georgia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Seventh-ranked Alabama bounced back from a loss in game two for a win in Saturday’s rubber match, downing Georgia 4-1 to earn the series win in the Crimson Tide’s final home game of the regular season.

Alabama (42-9, 17-4 SEC) took the lead in the bottom of the second and would hold it for the remainder of the game, as the Tide earned its SEC-leading 17th conference win of the season. Alabama hit a home run for the seventh consecutive game, as Marisa Runyon hit a two-run shot in the second inning, her third of the year. Jaclyn Traina (19-2) earned her 19th win of the season and the 99th of her career, throwing a complete game with just three hits allowed and nine strikeouts, a season high in SEC play.

After an offensive showcase on Friday, Georgia (39-12, 12-9 SEC) could not get the bats going on Saturday, earning just one run off three hits. Geri Ann Glasco (15-5) started the game and only pitched 2.0 innings because of an injury, but took the loss in the circle.

Georgia struck the opening shot of the game in the second inning, as Haylie McCleney robbed a potential three-run homer, but the long fly allowed the Georgia runner at third to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, Runyon gave Alabama the lead on one swing, hitting a two-run homer to straightaway center as the Tide pulled ahead 2-1. Alabama ended up loading the bases with two away in the half-inning but a hard lineout ended the threat, though the Tide were now on top.

After batting to finish off the top of the third inning, Glasco pulled up with an injury running down to first base, forcing Chelsea Wilkinson to pitch for the Bulldogs in the bottom-half of the inning. Alabama scored its first run against her in the bottom of the fourth, as Danielle Richard dropped an RBI single into left field to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Alabama tacked on one more in the bottom of the fifth, as Molly Fichtner hit a single through the right side to score Kallie Case from second, making it 4-1. Alabama held the same lead heading into the top of the seventh, as Georgia managed to hit a one-out double to left field that put the potential tying run on deck. A strikeout and a groundout ended any chance of a comeback as Alabama secured the series with a 4-1 victory.